
A Warning Wrapped in a Whisper
MOVIE REVIEW
Clout
–
Genre: Drama
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 17m
Director(s): Jordan Murphy Doidge
Writer(s): Jordan Murphy Doidge
Cast: Archie Yates, Anna Wilson-Jones, Nadine Marshall, Samuel Leakey, Kit Price
Where to Watch: shown at the 2025 Annual HollyShorts Film Festival
RAVING REVIEW: CLOUT is a short film that doesn’t waste time dressing up its message. Jordan Murphy Doidge has taken a simple but modern idea—what kids will do for online attention—and turned it into a story that feels immediate, unsettling, and believable. Instead of overwhelming the viewer with statistics or exaggerated warnings, the film illustrates how one teenager’s need for validation spirals out of control. That choice makes it far more effective than a lecture could ever be.
At the center of it all is Archie Yates, who plays Oskar, a boy desperate to turn fleeting attention into lasting fame. Yates never turns him into a caricature; instead, he makes the character feel like someone we’ve all known, or maybe even been. The way he clings to approval, hesitates when silence stretches too long, and masks insecurity with forced confidence makes Oskar painfully real. It’s a performance that grounds the film, making the bigger commentary land with more weight.
The supporting cast provides important texture. Anna Wilson-Jones and Nadine Marshall capture the uneasy mix of care and distraction that defines many adult responses to kids’ online lives—they’re present but not always truly listening. Samuel Leakey and Kit Price flesh out Oskar’s “friend” group, representing both the competition and companionship that fuel social validation. Price’s casting is particularly sharp, given his following outside of the film, adding a layer of authenticity to the story’s critique of influencer culture.
CLOUT is lean and pointed. The camera often holds on to Oskar in ways that make even safe spaces feel like a stage, emphasizing how nothing feels private once you imagine an audience. Cuts come quick, mimicking the jump from one clip or post to the next. The sound design incorporates notifications and digital chaos without making them gimmicks, allowing them to serve as background pressure. Together, these choices create a steady rise in tension without tipping into melodrama.
One of the film’s best decisions is its restraint. It doesn’t overload the runtime with explanations or overly dramatic confrontations. Instead, it shows Oskar making choices that feel small in the moment but gather weight as they stack up. That gradual build leads to a conclusion that feels both inevitable and chilling—not because of any shocking twist, but because it’s exactly the kind of outcome you fear while watching. The ending moments linger, as recognition of how easily the pursuit of attention can cross into harm.
The short also avoids villainization. Social media isn’t portrayed as a monster looming over kids; it’s a system of incentives, designed to reward risk and exaggeration. By focusing on Oskar’s perspective, CLOUT highlights how those incentives take root in everyday life. It’s not about one bad app or one reckless decision—it’s about the slow normalization of treating visibility as value. That perspective gives the film a maturity that elevates it beyond a simple “internet is bad” warning.
If there’s one area the film could go further, it’s in the adult perspective. We see glimpses of parental or institutional concern, but the film mostly leaves their role in the background. While that choice keeps the focus on Oskar, a little more depth there could have added to the sense that this isn’t just one kid’s problem—it’s a gap in how society responds to digital pressures.
What makes CLOUT stand out is its effective conveyance of its point. It’s direct without being heavy-handed, tense without being flashy, and thoughtful without slowing down. Jordan Murphy Doidge demonstrates real control in his debut, crafting a story that resonates on both an emotional and thematic level. Archie Yates’s performance pushes it even further, giving the cautionary tale a human face that’s hard to forget.
Ultimately, CLOUT is effective because it feels like home. It’s not warning about some distant danger; it’s showing a version of the world that’s already familiar. For parents, teachers, and especially young viewers, it’s a story that lands with the uncomfortable reminder that the audience doesn’t just watch—it demands. And that demand is rarely satisfied.
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[photo courtesy of PIMLICO PICTURES]
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Average Rating